Facilitator’s Guide

LGU Competency Assessment Tool

on Planning and Implementation of
Local Development Projects
I. Introduction

For the Local Government Units (LGUs) to transform local development plans into realities of
poverty alleviation and ASEAN, if not global competitiveness, development programs and
projects need to be designed and implemented well. The Local Government Academy, being
the training arm of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is mandated to
capacitate the local governance sector, and is currently implementing “Enhancing Local
Government Units’ (LGUs) Capacity on Planning and Implementation of Local Development
Projects”. The Department, with the LGA, has been doing several assessments for the
determination of the capacity gaps. A closer look on the self-assessments tools such as LGPMS
and SCALOG showed foci on local development planning. There has been no specific
governance assessment tools that looks into LGU capacities on project development and
management aspects, although there have been many capacity building activities by various
institutions on this. The nearest assessment tools on project development and management
currently in use is the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG), which looks
into the gender responsiveness of each process. Thus, this capacity assessment shall
endeavour to focus on LGU development project planning, implementation and monitoring and
evaluation or project development and management cycle processes especially among the 4th -
6th class Municipal LGUs. The assessment objectives are to:

1. Identify the LGU competency gaps in project planning and implementation, particularly
in areas of project development, procurement, contract management, implementation
and management, and sustainability planning;

2. Define the capacity enhancement requirements of 4th to 6th class municipalities on the
above-mentioned areas.

II. Understanding the LGU Planning and Implementation of Local Development Projects

The Philippines is composed of several territorial and political subdivisions composed of the
provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays, referred to as the Local Government Units
(LGUs). By virtue of RA 7160 or popularly known as the Local Government Code that these
subdivisions shall enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy to enable them to attain their
fullest development as self-reliant communities and make them more effective partners in the
attainment of national goals. Toward this end the State has bestowed local government units
(LGUs) with more powers, authority, responsibilities, and resources to address the common
good of its citizenries. The LGC provides that every local government unit shall exercise the
powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied there from, as well as powers necessary,
appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are
essential to the promotion of the general welfare. Particularly for the municipalities, the units
were further classified according to income classes, from 1st to 6th class municipalities. There
can be many factors affecting the income level of these municipalities, but overall it will redound
to capacity. LGUs are recognized as a body politic and corporate endowed with powers and
therefore, the LGUs can perform tasks that can improve its income class and effect a
competitive local community.

Despite the powers bestowed to the LGUs, the LGC provides that the province, through the
governor, shall ensure that every component city and municipality within its territorial

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 jurisdiction acts within the scope of its prescribed powers and functions. On the other hand, the
municipal mayors have general supervision over component Barangays. One of the functions
that enable every LGU to address the concerns of its constituents is planning. Thus, the
Province is mandated to have a Provincial Physical Development Framework Plan (PPDFP),
an embodiment of physical and comprehensive development plan in a provincial scope. The
cities and municipalities are expected to have a Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the
Comprehensive Development Plan. The barangays have their Barangay Development Plan. In
every political term,, provincial, city and municipal LGUs develop their Executive and
Legislative Agenda. All these plans are translated into multi-year investment listings, which are
the bases of annual investment program and budget. The PPAs in the approved AIP and
Annual Budget are assured with the government allocation and have to be implemented for the
particular year. However, there are projects, which resource requirements have to be sourced
out from external funding. For this particular case, the multi-year project listing is an important
reference or shopping list. All approved projects, be it locally and externally funded have to go
through the appropriate procurement process and contracts have to be managed before its
implementation. Thereafter, project implementation commences and management of its
implementation ensues.

III. Assessing the LGU

a. Scope and Coverage

This is an organizational capacity assessment of all municipal local government units focused
on: project planning, procurement, contract management, implementation and management,
and sustainability.

b. Respondents

The competency assessment requires a group of key informants, which shall be composed of
officers/personnel from offices responsible for local development planning, project planning,
procurement and contract management, project end-users or implementers, project
managers/officers, legislative representative, business sector representative, NGO/CSO
representative, and Barangay Captain’s representatives. The key informants are as follows:

1. Planning and Development Officer

2. Budget Officer
3. General Services Officer (not mandated for 4-6th class municipalities) or Procurement
Personnel/Officer in case the LGU has no GSO
4. BAC Chair
5. Local Chief Executive or Representative
6. Sangguniang Bayan Chair on Appropriations
7. Private Sector or NGO Observer at the BAC (Business, NGO or CSO)
8. Two representatives from implementing entities (In example: Municipal Engineer, Health
Officer, Agricultural Officer, Social Worker, DRRMO, etc.)
9. Punong Barangay Representatives ( Liga ng mga Barangay President, and one Barangay
Captain, which barangay has an on-going MLGU project)

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 c. Assessment Facilitation

The assessment shall be administered by the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer
(MLGOO) assigned to the municipality. A step-by-step facilitation steps are hereto provided.
The MLGOO shall prepare a Municipal LGU Competency Assessment Report, which format is
described in this Guide. The Report shall be communicated back to the MLGU and shall be
submitted to the DILG Provincial Office with the stipulated attachments.

Provincial Consolidation Sheet is made available to the DILG Provincial Office for the
generation of a Consolidated Provincial LGU Competency Assessment Report. This shall be
endorsed to the DILG Regional Office for the generation of the Consolidated Regional LGU
Competency Assessment Report, which shall be endorsed to the Policy and Research
Division of the Local Government Academy.

d. Assessment Indicators

The assessment indicators are the competency requirements, based on the organizational
elements such as: Valid structures, Competent workforce in terms of knowledge and skills,
Appropriate culture and attitude, Efficient and effective processes and system with updated
technology, tools, techniques, and Supportive leadership and political processes, expected to
support LGU performance in local project planning and implementation, procurement and
management and project planning sustainability.

e. Competency Assessment Tool

The Competency Assessment Tool aims to:

1. Describe the LGU competencies in the areas of: a) Project Development; b) Project
Procurement; c) Contract Management; d) Project Implementation and Management; and
e) Project Sustainability Planning, and

2. Identify the facilitating and hindering factors in planning and implementation of local
development projects, focused on above five areas, for an ASEAN/globally- competitive
LGUs.

The tool is of two parts: Part 1 General Focus Question; and Part II Matrix of Competency
Requirements. See attached Competency Assessment Tool (in Excel format)

f. Step-by-step procedure of the assessment administration

1. Facilitate registration of the key respondents/informants and the filling-out of Respondent’s

Profile hereto provided.

2. The assessment facilitator shall present the rationale, objectives of the assessment, and
inter-relationship of local development planning, project planning, procurement and contract
management, implementation and management. Presentation material is hereto provided.

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 3. It is advisable to pre- fill-out the general information found in the Competency Assessment
Tool:

Name of MLGU:
Income Class:
Province:
Region:
Latest 20% Development Fund (in PhP):
Number of Barangays
Average DF/Barangay (in PhP)
Over-all Competitiveness Rank and Score:
Economic Dynamism Rank and Score:
Government Efficiency Rank and Score:
Infrastructure Rank and Score:

4. Each facilitator shall have a copy of the competency assessment tool (in Excel). The
Assessment Tool shall be flashed on screen for common reference with the LGU key
informants. Each informant shall also be given copy of the Tool, preferably in advance.

The facilitator shall be responsible in inputting responses to the Assessment Tool while
doing the facilitation. Should there be somebody to assist in inputting of responses, the
facilitator is still responsible in instructing the content to be inputted.

5. The assessment facilitator starts the assessment with these focus questions:

a. How would you describe your LGU project planning and management process? Or,
Tell me about your LGU project planning and management? This is an open-ended
question that may have varied responses, which should be captured as it is.

b. Are mandated personnel/officer performing the key steps and processes, or are there
persons specially designated to perform these steps and processes?

6. The key informants shall have to arrive at a consensus for the proficiency rating. To do this,
the assessment facilitator shall provide time for ideas and opinions to be expressed, which
shall be recorded as remarks in the assessment tool. Only then can facilitator ask for the
rating. Should there be varied opinions/ideas and the participants are not able to agree on
the proficiency rating immediately, facilitator can assist the team to arrive at a consensus by
directing their attention to the Facilitating Factors and Hindering Factors columns. Let the
informants describe the facilitating and/or hindering factors to a particular competency
requirement. The Facilitator shall summarize these to assist the participants to agree on the
proficiency rating. The more hindering factors there are the lower may be the proficiency
level of the particular competency requirement.

7. After the filling-out of the Assessment Tool and summarizing the responses, the Facilitator
shall ask for the key informants’ recommendations.

8. Facilitator shall close the assessment session with a brief evaluation through the following
questions:

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 a. How do you feel about the assessment? Was it helpful or otherwise, to the functions of
project planning, implementation and management?
b. What are your major realizations?

g. Framework of Analysis

The framework of analysis is based on the key informants’ general assessment and description
of proficiency level by competency requirement per element of project identification,
development, procurement, implementation, management and sustainability. The analysis is
focused on the identification of competency needs/gaps as described by the level of proficiency
and supplemented by the identified facilitating and hindering factors, and the additional
information under the Remarks column. The competency needs shall be classified into: valid
structures, competent workforce, efficient processes, effective and supportive leadership,
decision makers and political processes, adequate resources, appropriate technology, tools,
facilities, and appropriate culture as required by the project planning and management
elements. The details of the competency needs along these aspects shall define the content of
the capacity requirements of the LGU.

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 IV. Report Writing

A. Municipal Competency Assessment Report

1. Title of the Activity: Competency Assessment for a Focused Interventions in

Enhancing Local Government Units’ (LGUs) Capacity on Planning and
Implementation of Local Development Projects

2. Objectives of the Assessment:

a. Describe the LGU competencies in the areas of: a) Project Development; b) Project
Procurement; c) Contract Management; d) Project Implementation and Management;
and e) Project Sustainability Planning, and

b. Identify the facilitating (strength) and hindering factors (weaknesses) in planning and
implementation of local development projects, focused on above five areas, for an
ASEAN/globally- competitive LGUs.

3. About the LGU

a. Name of the MLGU, Province and Region
b. Income Class
c. Description of the LGU’s Competitiveness Rank and Score: Overall and Three Areas
- Highlight the LGU’s strong areas and areas that the LGU needs improvement
d. Respondents’ Profile

4. Findings:
a. General Description and Assessment of the LGU Project Planning and Implementation
Processes (including the personnel/officers performing the tasks)

b. Description of Proficiency Level of the Competency Requirements by Element:

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 i. Project Identification and Development
ii. Project Procurement and Contract Management
iii. Project Implementation and Management
iv. Sustainability Planning

b1. Highlight those with high proficiencies and the facilitating factors
b2. Observe if its follows that LGU with high competitiveness rank and index have more
advanced competencies in certain areas.
b2. Competency Gaps (low level of proficiencies and the hindering factors)

5. Recommendations on the LGU Capacity Requirements on Project Planning, Implementation

and Management for Global/ASEAN competitiveness

6. Annex: Duly filled-out competency assessment tool in Excel Format , LGU Respondent’s
Profile, Attendance Sheet

Note: The duly-filled out Competency Assessment Tool in Excel shall be immediately posted
into the LGA-established site while report writing is going on at the municipal level.

B. Consolidated Provincial LGU Competency Assessment Report

1. Title of the Activity: Competency Assessment for a Focused Interventions in

Enhancing Local Government Units’ (LGUs) Capacity on Planning and
Implementation of Local Development Projects

2. Province and Region:

3. Objectives of the Assessment:

b. Describe the LGU competencies in the areas of: a) Project Development; b) Project
Procurement; c) Contract Management; d) Project Implementation and Management;
and e) Project Sustainability Planning, and

c. Identify the facilitating (strength) and hindering factors (weaknesses) in planning and
implementation of local development projects, focused on above five areas, for an
ASEAN/globally- competitive LGUs.

4. About the MLGU Respondents

a. No, of Covered MLGUs by Income Class

b. Description of Competitiveness Rank and Score of Covered MLGUs: Overall and Three
Areas
c. Summary of Respondents’ Profile

5. Findings:
a. Summary of the MLGUs’ General Description and Assessment of the LGU Project
Planning and Implementation Processes (including the personnel/officers performing the
tasks)
b. Summary of the LGU Proficiency Level of the Competency Requirements by Element:

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 j. Project Identification and Development
v. Project Procurement and Contract Management
vi. Project Implementation and Management
vii.Sustainability Planning

b1. Highlight those with high proficiencies and the facilitating factors
b2. Describe competencies of MLGUs with high competitiveness rank and index
b2. Competency Gaps (low level of proficiencies and the hindering factors)

6. Recommendations on the LGU Capacity Requirements on Project Planning, Implementation

and Management for Global/ASEAN competitiveness

7. Annex: Duly filled-out Consolidated Provincial Competency Assessment Matrix Excel Format

C. Consolidated Regional LGU Competency Assessment Report

1. Title of the Activity: Competency Assessment for a Focused Interventions in

Enhancing Local Government Units’ (LGUs) Capacity on Planning and
Implementation of Local Development Projects
2. Region and Covered Provinces:

3. Objectives of the Assessment:

a. Describe the LGU competencies in the areas of: a) Project Development; b) Project
Procurement; c) Contract Management; d) Project Implementation and Management;
and e) Project Sustainability Planning, and

b. Identify the facilitating (strength) and hindering factors (weaknesses) in planning and
implementation of local development projects, focused on above five areas, for an
ASEAN/globally- competitive LGUs.

4. About the MLGU Respondents by Province

a. No, of Covered MLGUs by Income Class

b. Description of Competitiveness Rank and Score of Covered MLGUs: Overall
Competitiveness and Three Areas
c. Summary of Respondents’ Profile

5. Summary of Findings by Province:

a. Summary of the MLGUs’ General Description and Assessment of the LGU Project
Planning and Implementation Processes (including the personnel/officers performing
the tasks)
b. Summary of the LGU Proficiency Level of the Competency Requirements by
Element:
i. Project Identification and Development
ii. Project Procurement and Contract Management

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 iii. Project Implementation and Management
iv. Sustainability Planning

- Highlight those with high proficiencies and the facilitating factors

- Description competencies of MLGUs with high competitiveness rank and index
- Competency Gaps (low level of proficiencies and the hindering factors)

6. Recommendations on the LGU Capacity Requirements on Project Planning,

Implementation and Management for Global/ASEAN competitiveness

7. Annex: Duly filled-out Consolidated Regional Competency Assessment Matrix by

Province (in Excel Format)

V. References

1. Alberto C. Agra. Course Book: Public – Private Partnerships by Local Government Units.
Volume 1: Enabling LGU PPPs Annotation and Commentary. January 15, 2015. Local
Government Academy. Department of Interior and Local Government.
2. Bringing the Future Into Focus: A Step-by-Step Sustainability Planning Workbook by The
Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia by and on behalf of Georgia State
University and Georgia Health Policy Center is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivs 3.0 United States License.
3. Local Government Units Procurement Manual 2014
4. Philippines Country Procurement Assessment Report 2012. © 2013 Asian Development
Bank. Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank, Published in 2013. Printed
in the Philippines.
5. Volume 3: Investment Programming and Revenue Generation and Volume 5: Project
Evaluation and Development. These are parts of the Guidelines on Provincial/Local Planning
and Expenditure Management produced under the NEDA-ADB Technical Assistance on
Strengthening Provincial and Local Planning and Expenditure Management. Published by
the National Economic and Development Authority and the Asian Development Bank.
Copyright 2007.
6. c.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/studies/pdf/comp_fw/eu_comp_fw_report_en.
pdf
7. https://hr.unl.edu/compensation/nuvalues/corecompetencies.shtm

VI. Annexes

A. Competency Assessment Tool in Microsoft Excel

B. LGU Respondent’s Profile
C. PowerPoint Presentation for an Overview of the Competency Assessment and introduction
to Project Development, Management and Sustainability Planning.

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